View full sizeStaten Island Advance photoDaniel J. Melious, a former religion teacher at Monsignor Farrell High School, sought unspecified damages stemming from his firing in 2007 as junior varsity basketball coach and subsequent termination from his instructor's post.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island justice has dismissed a former Monsignor Farrell High School teacher's lawsuit accusing the school of defamation and maliciously firing him.

Daniel J. Melious, a one-time religion teacher at the Oakwood school, sought unspecified monetary damages stemming from his sacking in 2007 as junior varsity basketball coach and subsequent termination from his instructor's post for misconduct. School officials accused Melious of verbally abusing a student and encouraging other students to emulate him.

Melious contends school officials sullied his reputation by falsely accusing him of taking steroids and having "inappropriate relationships" with students. One of those students, a former basketball player, told the Advance that Melious had done nothing untoward.

Melious denied the allegations and said the firing cost him an opportunity to work as a police officer.

In tossing out the case, state Supreme Court Justice Philip G. Minardo ruled the statements were made in "privileged" discussions among staff members and administrators, and therefore protected.

Minardo noted the statements only became public after Melious discussed them in a press release and a press conference at his lawyer's office in June 2007. Moreover, Melious failed to prove the statements were made maliciously or when they were known to be false, the judge said.

"The persons alleged to have made the statements did so in the course of their employment and in the discharge of their duty to MFHS, where they shared a common interest in safeguarding the integrity of the institution," the judge wrote. "In addition, the statements were made to persons with a corresponding duty to protect the school and, more importantly, the well-being of its students."

Melious' lawyer, Jonathan B. Behrins said Thursday his client is "disappointed" with the decision and will appeal.

"The court failed to give Mr. Melious the benefit of every inference as it is charged to do" on potential issues of triable facts, said Behrins, a partner in the Bloomfield-based Behrins Law Firm.

Fran Davies, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of New York, said officials were "pleased" with the outcome.

Melious had sued the archdiocese, along with Farrell, former principal, Monsignor John N. Paddack, and several administrators.

"We are particularly gratified that the individuals at Monsignor Farrell High School who were so falsely accused of wrongdoing have been vindicated," said Ms. Davies.

Among his allegations, Melious claimed that Robert Besignano, a dean and then-varsity basketball coach at Farrell publicly insinuated at a basketball tournament in February 2007 that Melious used steroids. But Minardo said Melious' failure to file the defamation action within the one-year statutory limit negated his claim.

The judge also said the accusations against Melious were prompted by concerns raised by students' parents.

One parent reported that Melious was seen at the movies with a student, while another claimed he was driving another student to and from basketball games, said court papers.

Another parent complained of "repeated" incidents in which her son was racially harassed and bullied by other students and Melious in his religion class, said court papers.

"Hence, it cannot be said that the alleged defamatory acts attributed to defendants lacked a legitimate intent," said the judge. "A [claimed defamatory] statement is subject to a qualified privilege when it is fairly made by a person in the discharge of some public or private duty, legal or moral, or in the conduct of his own affairs, in a matter where his interest is concerned."